Wichita eagle., 1887-10-21

waiting room where quite q crowd had con
gregated for the same object e. our OWE
We were detained here for q few minute
only, when. following the guide, we pro
ceeded up narrow windioe stairway t
the first OF ten rooms comprising the stat,
apartments 1 confess to sense of disap
ointment after going through these apart
ments at the lack Of grandeur displayed Il
characterization and interior finish as com
pared with other palaces we had visitet
elsewhere. There we're two room
containing portraits painted by Van
dyk and Zucarelle, another one
containing tapestries and stained glas
portrait Of George III. The Waterlo,
chamber where state banquets are some
times given and contains something like
forty: portraits Of reigning sovereigns O
Europe in the time of George III, togethe
with those Of leading characters OF tina
day. both civil and military.
The grand reception room, which really
Is fine one, contains number OF Gobe!ir
tapestries and superb Malachite vase
presented to the queen by the Emperor
Nicholas, of Russia. ST. George Hall Il
200 feet long by "a feet wide and 80 fee
high. 1t contains the sovereign's throne
many portraits Of Knights OF the Garter
and twenty four shields emblszened witt
the arms Of each sovereign, covering many
decades. The guard chamber was to mt
the most interesting Of all the rooms. Ii
1t are contained the armour OF knights anc
princes as far back az 1880. two unique
chairs one constructed from an oaB
team taken from "AllOway's auld
haunted kirk" which the genius OF Burns
brought into repute-the other made from
an elm grown on the battle field Of Water
loo. There were also. relics OF naval bat
ties, trophies from Inkerman, Zululand
and from elsewhere.
The queens presence chamber contains
tapestries illustrating scenes from the life
of Queen Esther and some old portraits.
The Queens audience room. like its pre-
decessor has Its walls decorated with tapes
tries In continuation OF the life OF. Queen
Esther There Is also afull length portrait
Of Mary Queen OF Scots, whom the Papal
authorities are about to can0nlze SUI years
after she was beheaded. There are three
Inscriptions In latin surrounding this pic.
ture giving an epitome OF the causes that
led to her execution-msinly her adherence
to the Romish church. From here we
passed into the vestibule and stepped down
and out.
But little ways and we entered Albert
chapel, formerly Woolsey's chapel, built
by Henry VII. and restored few years
since. 1t Is the handsomest church we
saw In England, not large,
but finished in Mosaics, aud
! style OF ornamentation with which /
Am not familiar. 1t contains superb
,enotaph Of Prince Albert and the tomb OF
Leopold, the queens deceased son, which
s very beautiful. We next entered st.
Georges chapel, built In 1474, which IS OF
gothic design, and considered one OF the
inest In Europe. 1t contains the tombs OF
ome of England's kings and OF many
,ther noted persons. The choir is hung
With the banners, helmets and insignia OF
he knights Of the Garter.
This closed cur sight seeing for this day,
nd we returned to London.
During the preparations for the queens
ubilee and for some weeks thereafter,
Westminster abbey was not accessible to
he public Happily the restrictions were
in time to enable US to survey 1t
t our leisure To the English speaking |
ace as whole, there Is no building OF
nediaeval times that presentsa stronger at
raction than this old abbey. 1t is built on
site where King Sebert erected mon
stery for the beuedic'ions In GIG, which
las destroyed by the Danes. but was re-
u'It by Edgar in 9S5, and
ad additions madet0 It by Edward the
oufessor. Henry III. and Edward l. 1t
as Catholic institution up to the time Of
.leen Elizabeth, except for period dur
lg the reign OF Henry VIII. All the
nglish sovereigns since Harold have been
rowned here, and the chair In which they |
/ sat is one OF the treasured relics OF the
lace. There Is q constant stream OF visi-
RS going In or coming out OF the abbey.
To one who has seen so many OF the
lurches Of Europe 1t might be supposed
lat disappointment awaited me when !
aimed ACCESS to Westminster Abbey, but
lch was not the case There Is nothing
ere but what inspires one with veneer
ion. 1t Is vast, harmonious and solemn,
I'd you feel this when you enter Its
1t Is replete with statues and
bIets, lining the aisles ard TRANSCRIPTS, sud
the Chspels repose the bones OF many
storical characters. 1t would be weart-
me to specify these. but among them are
e tombs Of Henry VII, James !. Charles II.
'illiam and Mary. Edward VII, Queen
nne, George Ii, Queen Elizabeth. Mary
ueen Of Scots. Edward V, Henry V,
enry III. Richard ii, Edward the comics
r, and Edward 1. In the Poets corner
e Inscriptions to all the poets aud great
riters Of England, some OF whom are bur
1 here. There Is likewise In this corner
superb bust of our swn Lonefellow.
have given but hurried and very H.
mp,ete account Of "Englsnd's Temple OF
sme," for the reasos that descriptions OF
In detail are found IN almost every family
,rary. Having now paid my LAST respect
England, 30 far as these letters are con-
rned. l shall proceed across the channel
to France. inviting you to tarry with me
Paris for brief spell, then on to Genoa,
heIe l know rich repsst awaits me and
= friends II they desire to participate.
NJ. STEWART.